EPA Region 7

Communities Information Digest

April 1, 2016
Welcome to the latest EPA Region 7 Digest!
EPA Region 7s Communities Information Digest provides communities with the latest news
about funding and technical assistance opportunities, webinars, conferences, and other
activities related to human health and the environment.
Jump to:
Headlines
Funding and Technical Assistance Opportunities
Meetings, Conferences, Training, & Events
Webinars and Conference Calls
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Headlines
National
*EPA Announces Funding for Water Reuse and Conservation Research
EPA announced funding to five institutions to research human and ecological health
impacts associated with water reuse and conservation practices.
*EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes: Guidance for
Discussing Tribal Treaty Rights
The purpose of this Guidance is to enhance EPAs consultations under the EPA Policy on
Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes in situations where tribal treaty rights may
be affected by a proposed EPA action.
*EPA announces winners of Phase I of the Nutrient Recycling Challenge
The 34 selected submissions were also invited to the Nutrient Recycling Challenge DC
Summit, in Washington, DC on March 30-31, 2016. The summit will provide a forum for
innovators to meet experts and other innovators, as well as learn about resources to
develop their ideas into real-life technologies.

*USDA Seeks Applications for Loans and Grants to Help Rural Businesses
USDA is seeking applications for loans and grants to help support the start-up or
expansion of rural businesses. For information on how to apply, contact your Rural
Development state office or page 14415 of the March 17 Federal Register.
*EPA Report: Diesel Engine Grant Program Nets Major Air, Public Health Benefits
Since its start in 2008, the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) program has
significantly improved air quality for communities across the country by retrofitting and
replacing older diesel engines.
*New Report: The Economics of Local Food Systems: A Toolkit to Guide
Community Discussions, Assessments and Choices
This report from the USDA and Colorado State University will help communities and
businesses evaluate the economic benefits of investing in local food systems.
*New Tool: USDA "Plant a Window Box for Pollinators" Using New People's Garden
Initiative Website
The new tool allows people to determine which plants will provide pollinator forage based
on their zip code. The interactive People's Garden website also includes the popular live
USDA "bee cam" which broadcasts honeybee activity on the roof of USDA's headquarters
building in Washington, D.C.

Region 7
*EPA Teams Collected Nearly 3,000 Tons of Residential Debris and Hazardous
Materials from December Flooding in St. Louis
EPA Region 7 and its contractors collected almost 3,000 tons of residential debris and
hazardous materials during a nearly two-month-long mission to help residents of Missouris
Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Louis counties recover from severe flooding caused
by heavy rains in late December 2015.
*Pella Corporation Named 2016 Energy Star Partner of the Year for Outstanding
Achievements in Energy Efficiency, Des Moines Public Schools, Principal Real
Estate Investors of Des Moines, and Metro Lighting of Brentwood, Mo., Also Energy
Star Honorees
Since its inception in 1992, Energy Star and its partners, including the 149 Partners of the
Year awardees, have helped prevent a total of more than 2.4 billion metric tons of
greenhouse gas emissions. In 2014 alone, Energy Star and its partners provided more
than $11 billion in societal benefits due to reducing damages from climate change.
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Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities

Route 66 Grants April 1

Coalition for Recreational Trails 2016 Achievement Awards April 4

Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) Installation
Energy Technology Demonstrations April 5
Environmental Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) - Environmental
Technology Demonstrations April 5
2016 Administration for Native Americans Funding Opportunities April 6
Opportunities include:
Environmental Regulatory Enhancement
Sustainable Employment and Economic Development Strategies (SEEDS)
Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance
EPA Environmental Education (EE) Local Grants April 8
WaterSMART: Drought Resiliency Project Grants April 11
*Community Innovation Labs Letters of Inquiry April 11
HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program April 12
Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term
Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant program April 14
NEJAC Request for Nominations April 15
The Recycling Partnerships Grant Opportunity to Improve Access to Residential
Curbside Recycling Systems April 15
NEA Challenge America Grant Program April 16
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) Program April 18
Integrating Human Health and Well-Being with Ecosystem Services April 21
Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program April 26
*EPA Wetland Program Development Grants April 29
*Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program April 29
Tribal Climate Change Photo Contest April 30
USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) May 2
NIFA-International Wheat Yield Partnership Program May 3

USDA Conservation Innovation Grants May 10

*USDA Local Food Promotion Program May 12
ASLA 2016 Student Awards May 13
USDA Team Nutrition Training Grants May 20
USDA Farm Service Outreach May 22
*BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Project Climate Funding Opportunity May 23
FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant June 15
FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant June 15
FWS National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program June 29
Asthma Empowerment Collaborations to Reduce Childhood Asthma Disparities
October 16

Ongoing Opportunities
Tribal Climate Change Funding Guide Regularly updated grants and programs
EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program
USDA Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Contact Local USDA Service
Center
Apply for a Fruit Tree Planting Foundation Orchard in Your Community
American Planning Association Community Planning Assistance Teams
Climate Solutions University Adaptation Plan Assistance
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Meetings, Conferences, & Events

APA 2016 National Planning Conference April 2-5, Phoenix, Arizona
Local Solutions Eastern Regional Climate Conference April 4-5, Baltimore, MD

National Healthy Schools Day April 5

National Safe Routes to School Conference April 5-7, Columbus, OH
*Water Week April 10-16, Washington D.C.
2016 National Watershed & Stormwater Conference April 12, Sacramento, CA
2016 Recreational Waters Conference April 12-15, New Orleans, LA
San Francisco Green Film Festival April 14-20, San Francisco, CA
Active Transportation & Safety Summit April 11-15, Wichita, KS
*The Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance Conference: Protecting Indian Water Rights
and Resources in the 21st Century April 13-14, Fort Pierre, SD
*National Climate Game Jam Water! Competition April 15-24
66th Annual Environmental Engineering Conference April 20, Lawrence, KS
Earth Day! April 22
*NOAA Climate Stewards Free Regional Climate Education Workshop April 22-23,
Long Beach, CA
Water Policy Conference April 24 27, Denver, CO
*Finding Justice in the Low-Carbon Transition April 28, Lawrence, KS
Transit Oriented Development & Urban Real Estate Conference May 3-5, Los
Angeles, CA
Balancing Nature and Commerce in Rural Communities and Landscapes May 3-5
Shepherdstown, WV
US Algal Toxin Conference 2016 May 9-11, Akron, OH
Water Quality Standards Academy May 16-20, Washington DC
Placemaking: Making it Happen May 11-13
*NOAA Climate Stewards Free Regional Climate Education Workshop May 13-14
Detroit, MI
Utility Energy Service Contracts Advanced Training May 16-17, Cincinnati, OH

2016 National Tribal Forum on Air Quality May 17-19, Niagara Falls, NY
River Rally 2016 May 20-23, Mobile, AL
10th International Symposium on Agriculture and the Environment May 23-27, West
Lafayette, Indiana
7th World Fisheries Congress May 24-27, Busan, Korea
Zero Waste Business Conference: Tuning in to Zero Waste June 1-4, Austin, TX
Grey to Green Cities June 1-4, Toronto, ON
Sustainable Brands 2016 June 6-9, San Diego, CA
One Water Summit June 8-10, Atlanta, Georgia
CNU 24: The Transforming City June 8-11, Detroit, MI
2016 LOCUS National Leadership Summit June 13-15, Boston, MA
*NOAA Climate Stewards Free Regional Climate Education Workshop June 13-16
Salt Lake City, UT
*NOAA Climate Stewards Free Regional Climate Education Workshop June 21-22,
New Orleans, LA
*NOAA Climate Stewards Free Regional Climate Education Workshop June 30-July
2, Boulder, CO
Climate Strategies Forum - East Coast July 18-20, Arlington, VA
Earth Educators Rendezvous July 18-22, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
Urban Waters 4th National Training Workshop July 26-28, Arlington, VA
*NOAA Climate Stewards Free Regional Climate Education Workshop August 3-4,
Charleston, SC
*Kansas Environmental Conference August 9-11, Hutchinson, KS
North American Symposium on Climate Adaptation August 16-18, New York, NY
National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop August 23-25, Salt Lake City, UT
*2016 Missouri Recycling Association (MORA) Recycling Conference September 1214, St. Louis, MO

Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro Place September 12-15, Vancouver, BC

National Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference September 28-30, Baltimore, MD
*Green Business Engagement National Network Summit October 19-20, St. Louis,
MO
Climate Strategies Forum - West Coast October 19-20, San Diego, CA
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition October 29November 2, Denver, CO
CitiesAlive: 14th Annual Green Roof and Wall Conference November 1-4
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Webinars and Conference Calls

*Lessons in Green and Sustainable Remediation April 1, 11 a.m.-noon CST
This webinar from the Redevelopment Institute will explain the basic concepts of GSR and
how it can be applied to reduce the environmental footprint of remediation projects while
also benefiting the surrounding community and its economy.
*The smartest places on Earth: Why rustbelts are the emerging hotspots of global
innovation April 6, 8:30-10:00 a.m. CST
This webinar will discuss emerging hotspots and how cities such as Akron, Albany,
Raleigh-Durham, Minneapolis-St.Paul, and Portland in the United States, and Eindhoven,
Malmo, Dresden, and Oulu in Europe are seizing the initiative and recovering their
economic strength.
*Resilience by Design April 7, 12:15-1:15 p.m. CST
The webinar will bring context to the importance of resilience across business and
municipal communities, and describe why all leaders must move beyond the business-asusual approach.
*Diving in to Sea Level Change: Its Appropriate April 11, 6:30-8:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will introduce the Sea Level Rise: Polar Explorer tool, an interactive map
based 'app'. The app offers an interactive guided tour through the many layers of science
that impact sea level rise.
*Sharing the Balance of Stewardship: the Blackfoot Drought Response Plan April
14, 1-2:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will illustrate how the Blackfoot Drought Response Plan works and how it
has evolved recently in response to persistent drought, changing watershed priorities, and
a new tribal water compact.
Being Prepared for Climate Change: A Workbook for Developing Risk-Based
Adaptation Plans April 18, 11 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CST

The workbook provides guidance for conducting risk-based climate change vulnerability
assessments and developing adaptation action plans. It is an ideal tool for place based
organizations that manage environmental resources. This talk will give an overview of the
workbook steps and insight into why and how to use it. This discussion will be focused on
EPA Region 7 states and tribes.
*Celebrating Innovations that Support the Growth of Plastics Recycling April 19, 121:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will provide information about each of the 2016 Association of Plastics
Recyclers Plastics Recycling Showcase Innovations:
CDFA Brownfields Financing Webinar: Reaching Your Redevelopment Goals With
Revolving Loan Funds April 21, 12:30 p.m. CST
Learn the key features of a successful Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund and the
commonalities and challenges associated with implementing this underutilized financing
resource.
Useful to Usable Educational Resources Training Webinar May 6, 1-2:00 p.m. CST
This webinar discusses the tools and educational materials available to you so that you
can maximize the U2U Decision Support Tool Suite.
*The APR Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability: A Guided Tour through this
Comprehensive Product Design Reference Tool June 28, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will provide a step by step guide through the extensive resources provided
on the Association of Plastics Recyclers website.
*Plastics Recycling Works: Facts and Figures to Support a Thriving Industry
August 9, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will provide an overview of the environmental benefits of recycling, market
trends, brand owner sustainability goals, and future areas of growth in the plastics
recycling industry.
*Recycling Rigid Plastics Beyond Bottles: Resources to Support MRFs and
Municipalities September 6, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will provide an overview of the resources, developed by the Association of
Plastics Recyclers for MRFs and Municipalities to support the expansion of plastics
collected.
*2015 PET Container Recycling Rate Report Overview October 18, 12-1:00 p.m.
CST
This webinar will serve as an Executive Summary, featuring data and analyses from the
Report on Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity in 2015.
*2015 National Postconsumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Rate Report Overview
November 15, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will serve as an Executive Summary, featuring data and analyses from the
2015 National Postconsumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Rate Report.

On-Going and On-Demand Webinars

EPA Computer Training Helps Water and Wastewater Utilities Build Resilience
The training covers several topics including: identifying and funding potential hazard
mitigation projects, developing and updating an Emergency Response Plan (ERP),
coordinating mutual aid and assistance during emergencies, conducting damage
assessments, and many more.
EPA Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments 10-Part Webinar Series
Student Curriculum: Recipes for Healthy Kids, and a Healthy Environment
Each 45-minute lesson empowers kids to take steps in their everyday lives to improve
the environment for their communities and reduce their environmental risk.
LeanPath presents: Five Food Waste Myths to Debunk Now!
This webinar will explore five myths about food waste and the facts you need to debunk
them in your kitchen.

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EPA website.
EPA is not responsible for third party links. EPA does not endorse third party organizations or
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